Container carrier

ABSTRACT

A flexible container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands forming an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. At least one of a handle and a panel is formed adjacent the array of container receiving apertures. A diamond shaped aperture is formed between each pair of container receiving apertures, wherein each side of each diamond shaped aperture is parallel to a portion of an adjacent container receiving aperture. The resulting carrier is capable of unitizing a variety of containers in a tight multipackage using less material than existing container carriers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 62/595,633, filed on 7 Dec. 2017. This U.S. Provisional Application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and are made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a container carrier having container receiving apertures for unitizing a plurality of containers.

Description of Prior Art

Conventional container carriers are often used to unitize a plurality of similarly sized containers, such as cans, bottles, jars and boxes and/or similar containers that require unitization. Flexible plastic ring carriers are one such conventional container carrier.

Flexible plastic ring carriers having a plurality of container receiving apertures, typically of an oval, round or rectangular configuration, that each engage a corresponding container may be used to unitize groups of four, six, eight, twelve or other suitable groups of containers into a convenient multipackage. Flexible ring carriers may include a handle that extends upwardly from the carrier to enable a consumer to carry the package from the top (called a “top lift carrier”) or outwardly from a side of the carrier to enable a consumer to carry the package from the side (called a “side lift carrier”).

There are cost and weight benefits associated with reducing the material necessary to manufacture a carrier. However, a carrier that is reduced in material must still produce a sturdy and aesthetically pleasing package without breakage, sag at the ends or danger of container loss. Such a carrier must also withstand the rigors of high speed application to containers. As such, a need arises for a reduced-weight carrier capable of carrying a large number of containers that permits high speed application and results in an aesthetically pleasing package for the consumer to handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a flexible carrier for packaging containers that includes an arrangement of container receiving apertures that are configured to permit placement over containers and permit carrying a unitized package of containers along a handle extending longitudinally along the package.

The carrier is suitably configured with a combination of webs and container receiving apertures that permit opening up and generally even, distributed stretching for application to the containers. Traditional carriers typically include oval, round, rectangular or triangular shaped container receiving apertures.

The subject invention is directed to a container carrier that includes an arrangement of container receiving apertures and intermediate cutouts with a side lift handle as shown in the attached drawings. The resulting carrier is configured to enable placement over corresponding containers to result in a tight, unitized bricklike package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a side devotional view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a multipackage of containers according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of a multipackage of containers according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-6 show a flexible carrier 10 for unitizing four or more containers 5 into a resulting unitized multipackage 100. FIGS. 7 and 8 show two embodiments of a multipackage 100 of containers 5. Although FIGS. 1-6 illustrate various structures for flexible carrier 10 of the invention, the illustrations are exemplary, and the invention is not limited to the flexible carriers 10 or multipackages 100 shown for four, six, or eight containers. For example, flexible carrier 10 may be alternatively configured and used to unitize ten, twelve, or any other desired number of containers.

Containers 5 are preferably PET bottles as shown in FIG. 8, however cans, as shown in FIG. 7, glass bottles or any other commonly unitized container may be used with the flexible carrier according to this invention. The containers 5 are preferably, though not necessarily, like-sized within a single flexible carrier 10.

Each flexible carrier 10 preferably includes a single layer of flexible sheet having a width and length defining therein a plurality of flexible bands 30 further defining a plurality container receiving apertures 20, each for receiving a container. The plurality of container receiving apertures 20 are preferably arranged in two longitudinal rows and multiple longitudinal ranks so as to form an array of container receiving apertures 20, such as two rows by two ranks for a four container multipackage 100 as shown in FIG. 2 or two rows by three ranks for a six container multipackage 100 as shown in FIG. 1 or two rows by four ranks for an eight container multipackage 100 as shown in FIG. 4. Container receiving apertures 20 are preferably generally slightly elongated in a longitudinal direction of flexible carrier 10.

A representative multipackage 100 resulting from the flexible carrier 10 includes a plurality of unitized containers 5, such as shown in FIG. 7. The flexible carriers 10 are generally applied to containers 5 by stretching the flexible bands 30 surrounding the container receiving apertures 20 around each container 5, and requiring the stretched carrier 10 to recover, thereby providing a tight engagement.

A preferred carrier configuration includes bands 30 forming two distinct parallel rows of container receiving apertures 20. Each rank preferably includes two container receiving apertures 20 (one for each row in the carrier). Preferably, each of the carriers 10 shown in FIGS. 1-6 are manufactured in a generally continuous string of carriers wherein the carriers 10 are punched or otherwise formed longitudinally adjacent to other carriers 10. In this manner, a generally continuous string of carriers 10 is formed that may be rolled onto reels or folded into boxes for later unwinding and application to containers 5. The carriers 10 are then cut into individual carriers 10 and formed into individual multipackages 100.

FIGS. 1 and 4 show adjacent carriers at each end of the carrier 10 prior to separation. Carriers 10 are preferably separated by dividing apertures 14 and a perforation 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Dividing apertures 14 are preferably oval shaped.

Container receiving apertures 20 and intermediate apertures 40 are preferably formed by the bands 30 in a geometry that results in a uniform application of the carrier 10 to containers 5 to produce a tight unitization of containers 5 within each flexible carrier 10. Such a result is difficult when material within the flexible carrier 10 is minimized as shown and described herein. For instance, to achieve desired results in the described embodiments, outer bands 32 are preferably wider than inner bands 34.

As a result of the configuration of container receiving apertures 20 and hands 30 described, a pitch between adjacent container receiving apertures 20 in a row is capable of accommodating both cans and bottles while still maintaining a tight and compact package.

In particular, and as shown in the figures, the carrier 10 preferably includes an intermediate aperture 40 formed in a diamond shape. As described, the intermediate aperture 40 is defined as an aperture positioned between both each transverse rank and each longitudinal row of container receiving apertures 20. Each side of each intermediate aperture 40 is preferably parallel to a portion of each adjacent container receiving aperture 20. Each side of each diamond shaped aperture is preferably the same length. In addition, each corner of each diamond shaped aperture preferably includes rounded corners.

According to one preferred embodiment, an oval aperture 60 is positioned between each container receiving aperture 20 in transverse ranks. Each oval aperture 60 is preferably positioned midway between each adjacent container receiving aperture 20 in transverse ranks. As shown, the oval apertures 60 between outer ranks of container receiving apertures 20 are preferably longer than the oval apertures 60 between center ranks of container receiving apertures 20. According to a preferred embodiment, a major axis of the oval apertures 60 is preferably perpendicular to a major axis of the dividing apertures 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, a handle 50 extends from a longitudinal edge of the carrier 10. The handle 50 may comprise one or more elongated apertures positioned along the outer periphery of the handle 50 or may comprise a similar configuration that provides an ample area for a consumer to grasp by inserting a hand through and still maintain the purpose and integrity of the multipackage 100. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a panel 55 may extend along the longitudinal edge of the carrier 10. The panel may include merchandising information, proof of purchase information, pricing, scannable codes, marketing material and/or other designs and/or information relevant to the multipackage 100.

According to one preferred embodiment, a line of weakness 70 is positioned between the handle 50 or the panel 55 and the array of container receiving apertures. Alternatively, or in addition, a line of weakness 70 may be positioned along a longitudinal row of container receiving apertures 20 opposite the handle 50 or panel 55. The line of weakness 70 may comprise a perforation, a series of slits or other weakened area that permits separation of a portion of the carrier 10 from the remaining carrier 10. In this manner, containers 5 may be released from the multipackage 100 and/or the handle 50 or panel 55 may be separated from the multipackage 100 for use as a proof of purchase or reusable portion of the carrier 10.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that flexible carrier 10 and multipackage 100 susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention. 

1. A flexible container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers comprising: a plurality of flexible bands that form an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks; at least one of a handle and a panel formed adjacent the array of container receiving apertures; and a diamond shaped aperture formed between each pair of container receiving apertures, wherein each side of each diamond shaped aperture is parallel to a portion of an adjacent container receiving aperture.
 2. The flexible carrier of claim 1 wherein each side of diamond shaped aperture is the same length.
 3. The flexible carrier of claim 1 wherein each diamond shaped aperture includes rounded corners.
 4. The flexible carrier of claim 1 further comprising an oval aperture positioned between each container receiving aperture in transverse ranks.
 5. The flexible carrier of claim 4 wherein each oval aperture is positioned midway between each adjacent container receiving aperture in transverse ranks.
 6. The flexible carrier of claim 4 wherein the oval apertures between outer ranks of container receiving apertures are longer than the oval apertures between center ranks of container receiving apertures.
 7. The flexible carrier of claim 1 further comprising a line of weakness positioned between the at least one of the handle and the panel and the array of container receiving apertures.
 8. The flexible carrier of claim 1 wherein outer bands are wider than inner bands.
 9. A flexible container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers comprising: a plurality of flexible bands that form an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks; at least one of a handle and a panel formed adjacent the array of container receiving apertures; a diamond shaped aperture formed between each pair of container receiving apertures, wherein each side of diamond shaped aperture is the same length and each side is parallel to a portion of an adjacent container receiving aperture; and an oval aperture positioned between each container receiving aperture in transverse ranks.
 9. A flexible carrier of claim 9 wherein each oval aperture is positioned midway between each adjacent container receiving aperture in transverse ranks.
 11. The flexible carrier of claim 9 wherein the oval apertures between outer ranks of container receiving apertures are longer than the oval apertures between center ranks of container receiving apertures.
 12. The flexible carrier of claim 9 wherein outer bands are wider than inner bands.
 13. The flexible carrier of claim 9 further comprising a line of weakness along a longitudinal row of container receiving apertures opposite the at least one handle and panel.
 14. The flexible carrier of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of adjacent carriers formed in a generally continuous string.
 15. The flexible carrier of claim 14 further comprising two dividing apertures positioned between each adjacent carrier in a generally continuous string of carriers.
 16. The flexible carrier of claim 15 wherein a major axis of the oval aperture is perpendicular to a major axis of the dividing aperture. 